Pirates can't make dangerous trade deadline mistake that doomed their offseason

The Pittsburgh Pirates cannot afford to spend another deadline celebrating the players they pursued instead of the players they acquired.

With the trade deadline hours away, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal offered a blunt assessment of Pittsburgh’s work to this point. The Pirates have explored ambitious possibilities, including a potential deal for Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, but their only additions so far are infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Camilo Doval.

As Rosenthal aptly put it: Not good enough.

Doval provides reinforcement to a bullpen that badly needed one, and Gonzalez could give the Pirates additional infield depth while Konnor Griffin is on the IL. Neither move should be dismissed, but neither qualifies as the kind of meaningful offensive addition Pittsburgh needs to strengthen a roster sitting 3.5 games out of a National League wild card spot at the beginning of August.

The Pirates are close enough that they need to act like buyers. Not cautious or theoretical buyers who appear in every rumor before ultimately explaining why the asking price was too high — actual buyers.

Pirates must back up trade deadline rumors with actual moves to save face after offseason failures

Pirates fans have already watched this organization use its proximity to prominent players as a substitute for signing them. During the offseason, Pittsburgh was reportedly involved with names such as Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suárez. The Pirates could point to conversations, offers and interest, but none of that improved the lineup when those pursuits ended elsewhere.

The danger is that the Pirates emerge from the deadline with a similar story: They investigated Goodman. They discussed other impact bats. They made competitive offers. They remained aggressive until the final minutes.

Then the deadline passes, the lineup remains incomplete and the organization asks fans to grade the effort instead of the result. That would be unacceptable.

Pittsburgh doesn't need to recklessly empty its farm system for a rental or make a trade simply to generate excitement. But there is a wide gap between irresponsibility and the front office’s familiar tendency to become paralyzed by the pursuit of perfect value.

Good teams occasionally pay a little more than they would prefer because the standings demand it. Contenders recognize that prospects are not only future players; they are currency that can help the major-league club when an opportunity arrives. This is that opportunity.

The Pirates have remained within striking distance despite injuries, offensive inconsistency and a bullpen that has cost them far too many games. That should increase the urgency, not give the front office an excuse to stand still. A credible bat could change the complexion of the lineup, provide protection against injuries and signal to the clubhouse that management believes this season is worth investing in.

Doval can't be the headline addition. Gonzalez can't be the answer to an offense that still needs more impact.

The Pirates have spent years asking their fans to be patient while prospects developed and the organization constructed what was supposed to become a sustainable contender. Now that the team is within reach of a playoff spot, the front office must demonstrate that the entire process was designed to produce more than meaningful rumors.

Ben Cherington doesn't need to win every negotiation, but he needs to win one that matters. Otherwise, the Pirates will have repeated the offseason’s most dangerous mistake: believing that being involved is close enough to delivering.

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